Awesome Arcane Words

Logomania is defined as an obsessive interest in words or, alternatively, excessive and often incoherent talking.

I’m not really a logomaniac, but I do have a fascination with language. I relate much more to the first part of the definition than the excessive, incoherent talking part. I’m more of a lexicon fan than a logomaniac. I think every writer is to a certain extent.

I love the English language. It is so old that there are words that haven’t been uttered in centuries. It’s really impossible to know the entire language, which is what makes it fun. One of my favorite things to do is dig out random words that no one has heard since your grandpappy was a pup and start using them again for the hell of it.

Oh, words. How I love thee! I’m so happy cattywampus made the cut. It’s one of those extra fun words to say. Although I suspect, some people, especially the kids I went to elementary school with, would say that my picture should be by the second part of the definition for logomania. I read a lot when I was a kid, and a lot of strange words slipped out of my mouth. I didn’t have the small words to break down what I was saying, either, especially since the definitions were only vaguely fixed (the words were gained from context, rather than rote memorization). Too bad. I must have sounded like I was speaking a foreign language (and I probably wasn’t pronouncing even half of the words correctly).

These are great! The only one I knew is “defenestrate” which is used more than one might think (if you watch a certain type of film) and comes directly from the Latin for window (fenestra).
It’s funny how some of the words sound like their meaning – I guessed “fubsy” before reading the definition!
I think they missed a trick with “honeyfuggle”, however. I immediately thought:
“Hey Sylvia, fancy a quick honeyfuggle behind the bike sheds?” 🙂

Oh man, tarantism! Now I have a word for the syndrome my husband and his entire family have. It’s like an epidemic, I swear. A song comes on– at a grocery store, or the beach, or a funeral, anywhere!– and they start twitching, then moving, then dancing. It’s not right, lemme tell you. 😀

Within yon list are a few utile words that I may intercalate into my everyday vocabulary.
I ween thee an advantageous individual; I shall leverage thine words of which may be obfuscated from a multitude of beings (I shall coerce, even those who are gnosiophobic, to cerebrate and pore an the usage of utile, beauteous, and sesquipedalian words forsooth.)